About the course

In this course, you’ll explore the complexity of health systems and apply systems thinking to health system strengthening (HSS). You’ll critique major health system frameworks, analyse health system inequities, and interrogate the evidence for HSS approaches. You’ll be equipped with the knowledge and skills to develop HSS interventions across areas such as health policy, health financing, human resources, supply chain management, quality of care and private sector engagement. This course was developed by the Nossal Institute and UNICEF to equip UNICEF staff to work in HSS; now it’s open to you.

What topics will you cover?

  • Health system structures, functions and components, and how they interact.
  • How to use evidence, and analysis of inequity, to drive interventions to strengthen health systems.
  • Strengthening health systems through action in areas such as health policy, financing, human resources, supply chain management, quality of care and private sector engagement.
  • Using complex systems thinking to address health system problems.

What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Develop knowledge and skills in health systems strengthening (HSS), to improve outcomes for disadvantaged women and children.
  • Evaluate HSS interventions for their evidence base, sustainability and capacity to support universal health coverage.
  • Apply complex systems thinking in the design and implementation of HSS interventions

Who is the course for?

This course would suit middle and high-level health professionals, including health administrators and policy makers, doctors, nurses and others who work to shape health systems. The course focuses primarily on low and middle income country contexts.

Estimated learning effort

3 hours per week. You are required to pass all graded assignments to complete the course.

Who developed the course?

UNICEF promotes the rights and wellbeing of every child in 190 countries and territories, with a special focus on reaching the most vulnerable and excluded children.

The University of Melbourne is a public research university located in Melbourne, Australia.

The University of Melbourne’s Nossal Institute for Global Health is a leader in health systems research and teaching.

What's included?

UNICEF are offering everyone who joins this course a free digital upgrade, so that you can experience the full benefits of studying online for free. This means that you get:

- Unlimited access to this course
- Includes any articles, videos, peer reviews and quizzes
- Tests to validate your learning
- A PDF Certificate of Achievement to prove your success when you’re eligible